August 8-14, 1982. Midnight in America.
Two years before there was Ronald Reagan's Morning in America, we had 1982, what we call Midnight in America. It was anything but the roaring 1980s from popular memory. This week was like an alternative universe in many ways to the 1920s.
Brand new President Ronald Reagan was heading up to Capitol Hill to stump for a tax increase of all things. The tax increase would turn out to be the largest tax increase in US history. The economy was still suffering a long hangover from the exploding interest rates that got cranked up in the late 1970s. 15%! The 70s in America were a little crazy and 1982 was the transition from the ugly 1970s to the more sedate 1980s.
In Europe, things were testier, as usual.
The Solidarity trade union in Poland had been officially outlawed by the government of President Jaruzelski, but was holding mass demonstrations in the streets this week.
Israel was fighting the PLO in Lebanon. And President Reagan told them to stop fighting…and they did.
The summer of blockbuster movies was upon us, more great movies than you can remember.
AIDS was stalking the land but it was only beginning to be known and understood.
